Sound-conveyer and tone-modulator.



C. E. WOODS.

SOUND CONVEYER AND TONE MODULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, I915- Patented May 22 UNITED STA-f @FFECE @LIN'ION E. 'WQODS, 0F BRIDGEPQRT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNUB T0 AMERICAN GRAPHD- PHSNE CQMPANY, VIRGINIA.

OF BRIDGEPCIUT, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION 8F EST SOUND-CONVEYER AND TONE-MODULATOR.

Application filed 311137 1?,

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON it cons, a citizen of the United Sta es, and a resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut, (whose postoffice address is Bridgeport, Connecticut), have invented a new and useful Improvement in SoundConveyers and Tone-ll lodulators, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification,

The object of the invention is to improve the quality of audible reproductions obtained from graphophomas or other tall machines; and while the invention is primarily intended for use with the socallc l concealed horn type or machine, in which the sound-conveyer or horn is inclosed v in a cabinet, yet the invention is applicable to other forms One feature of the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of the sound-conveyer or horn, so as to prevent echoes or interfering sound-waves and produce only the pure tones coming from the record. Another feature of the invention consists in' providing an improved tone-controller within reach of the person operating the machine. Another feature of the invention consists of the com bin-ation of the, two features just named. The invention consists further in the various features of construction and arrangement hereinafterpointed out and claimed.

The several parts of the invention are capable of being embodied in various forms; but the invention will be best understood in connection with the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth its use in connection with a concealed-horn machine e; .he duplex or polyphone type, such as dis-- closed in the pending Woods application for U. S. Letters-Patent filed March 8t 1, 1915, Serial Number 12,845.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is plan view, partly in section, of a polyphone or duplex 'machine, showing the arrangement of the stationary sound-passages and the tonemodulators therefor.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, dinally through line Ji l-ll of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken transversely through line llllllli f L 1g. 1.

In these drawings, 1 represents the top shelf of the ordinary (irrafonola or other concealed-horn talkingmachine. in such Patented May 22, 191?,

"1915. Serial No. 40,491.

machines, the 1n tor-mechanism is suspended beneath this shelf, while the turn-table is located above it; and the tone-arm, with sound-box and stylus, is journaled upon support 1, to register with the opening 2 therein which communicateswith the stationary sound-conieyer or concealed horn. a nicl as the tone-arm, turn-table, mo- 11, etc, are of the usual construe on, n, is unnecessary to show them; but in the present instance, there are to be two such tone-arms. each similarly mounted above its own opening 2.

Beneath the. shelf 1 is secured a. sound conveyer consisting of the vertical inner member or throat and the horizontal outer or flaring; member or horn. This throat is composed of the vertical reanwall 3, the two vertical. side-walls H, the horizontal bottom or floor 5 which unites the lower ends of the walls 3 and a, and the forwardly-sloping front wall 6, which extends only part of the way toward the floor 5. In the form illustrated, this throat is divided into two compartments by the wedgeshapcd partition 7 which extends all the way to the floor 5. A heavy block 8. preferably of hone-cry maple, is fitted into the angle forn'ied by the rear wall and the floor of each throat, to present a smooth and solid reflecting-surface at an angle of substantially forty-five degrees. The horizontal horn is composed of the two vertical 'de-walls 9 9. located in divergent planes, to top all or roof 10 which curves reversely as shown to present first its convex and then its conca e portion toward the interior of the horn. and the oppositely-curved bottom-wall or floor 11. hen there are two tone-arms and two compartments in the throat, then the horn also is divided into two compartments by a vertical partition Around the smaller and inner end of the horn are cleats "i3, and corresponding cleats It are provided around the adjacent opening left in the throat, for stiffening the respective memhers and for securing the two members together. Preferably non-vibrating body 15 of felt or the like will be interposed between the two parts; and a similar non-vibrating body 15" will be interposed between the upper end of the throat and the sheh "i.

The oppositely-curved reverse carvings of the roof and floor 10 and 11 serve to hold the side-Walls 9 (and the partition 12, if used) under tension, and impart additional rigidity to the horn as a whole. Preferably both the throat and the horn are composed of fairly thick wood, say three quarters of an inch. It will be observed that the passage of the sound-Waves through the throat is rectilineal and the reflected passage from the smooth surface 8 to the exit of the horn is likewise rectilineal; and that there is a continually-expanding passageway without any ledges or pockets to cause echoes or reverberations.

The front Wall of the throat is shown as offset somewhat from the opening 2, to provide a space for the flat valve 20, one in each throat. The valve is secured rigidly upon a rod 21, journaled in the side-walls 4 and having at one end a crank 22 adapted to receive a mechanical connection which is within reach of the operator. The valve is made of Wood of substantial thickness, and shaped so that its lower end may swing freely from the front of the throat to the rear; the recessed front of the-throat-wall thus permits the valve, when open, to be entirely out of the way of the sound-passage. The exposed face of the valve is covered with a sheet 23 of felt or the like, adapted to make a tight joint on either edge of the valve.

In the position indicated by the full lines in Fig. 2, the valve is entirely retracted and the throat is fully open to permit the free passage of all of the sound-waves. By swinging the valve more and more toward the rear throat-wall 3, the throat is more and more restricted, and the passage of the sound-Waves more and more impeded. It is to be observed, however, that even when the valve is almost in contact with the rear wall, there will be no reflection or reverberation of sound, some portion of the sound-waves passing rectilineally downward to impinge upon the reflecting-surface 8, and the remaining portions of the sound-waves being absorbed by the felt surface 23 (instead of being reflected back against the diaphragm or otherwise interfering with the normal sound-waves). The improved tone-modulation provided by the valve (or valves, if two or more be employed) not only permits the operator to modulate the playing of a record, to suit his fancy, but likewise permits the use of the so-called hard needle as medium or soft needles, etc.,by merely decreasing the volume of sound permitted to pass through the throat and into the horn.

The invention has thus been described in full detail, but only for the sake of clearness; since it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms. Certain features of the invention may be employed to the exclusion of other features thereof, and the various parts may be transposed or modified considerably, without in any case departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a talking-machine, a sound-conveyor having an elongated recess at one side of the passageway therethrough, a flap-valve located normally within said recess and hinged at the end nearer the origin of the sound-waves, and means within control of the operator for moving said valve to close said passageway to any desired extent, the face of said valve lying at all times at an acute angle. to the outward path of said sound-waves.

'2. A tone-modulator for talking-machines, consisting of the combination of a soundpassage having no opening in the side thereof, and a flat flap-valve located within said sound-passage and pivoted at its inner end so that in every position of adjustment it will lie at an acute angle to the direction of passage of the soundwvaves, whereby closing of said valve prevents the passage of said sound-waves into the open air.

3. In a talkin machine, the combination of a sound conduit provided with angularlyrelated sections, a plane reflecting surface for reflecting into a succeeding section all of the sound-waves passing through the preceding section, and an elongated valve member within the preceding section and pivoted adjacent its extremity remote from said reflecting surface, said valve member being operable to optionally vary the area of sound-wave projection on said surface.

1-. In a talking machine, the combination of sound conduit provided with angularlyrelated sections rectangular in cross section, a piano reflecting surface for reflecting into a succeeding section all of the sound-waves passing through the preceding section, and an elongated rectangular valve member within the preceding section and pivoted adjacent its extremity remote from said reflecting surface, said valve member being operable to entirely close said preceding section or to optionaliy vary the area of soundwave projection on said surface.

5. In a talking machine, in combination with a sound conduit, an elongated valve member therein and adapted to entirely close said conduit or to optionally vary the passage of sound-waves therethrough, said valve. member being pivoted adjacent its extremity nearer the source of sound-waves and being materially longer than the transverse dimension of said conduit whereby said valve member swings through a relativel small angle in passing through its maximum range of movement.

6. In a talking machine, in combination with a sound conduit, an elongated valve member therein and adapted to open wide or t0 entirely close said conduit or to optionally Vary the passage of sound-waves therethrough, said valve member being pivoted adjacent its extremity nearer the source of sound-Waves and being materially longer than the transverse dimension of said conduit whereby said valve member swings through a relatively small angle in passing through its maximum range of movement,

10 said valve member when open assuming a position wherein the sound passage is left unrestricted.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLINTON E. WOODS.

Witnesses:

J OHN S. GRIFFITH, JOHN R. PETRIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

